PHIL 106: Critical thinking

LARKIN: Fall 2002

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TEST #3 Review:

Inductive Logic

 

Multiple Choice Questions: Please choose the best available answer and record your choice on the separate answer sheet provided.

 

A.      Inductive Concepts

    1. Read: Chapter 1.8
    2. Know the definitions of ‘strong’ and ‘cogent’
    3. Example:

If an inductively strong argument has a false conclusion then we know that the argument:

a.  Definitely has a false premise

b. Probably has a false premise

c.  Is cogent

d. Is not cogent

e.  None of the above

 

B.      Fallacies of Presumption

    1. Read: Chapter 4.3
    2. Exercises: p.161
    3. Example:

It is illegal to assume a false identity.  Therefore trick-or-treaters dressed up in Halloween costumes should all be arrested.

a.  Begging the question

b. Complex question

c.  False Cause

d. Accident

e.  Converse Accident/Hasty Generalization

 

C.      Inductive Argument Identification

    1. Read:  Chapter 11.1
    2. Know the forms of inductive generalizations, arguments by analogy, and arguments to the best explanation.
    3. Example:

Tyler lives in a large house and drives a Mercedes.  So he must have a lot of money.

a.  Inductive Generalization

b. Argument by Analogy

c.  Argument to the Best Explanation

 

D.      Stronger/Weaker

    1. Read: Chapter 11.2
    2. Exercises: p. 435
    3. Example:

“Tyler lives in a large house and drives a Mercedes.  So he must have a lot of money.”  Which of the following would make this argument weaker:

a.  Tyler works part time at Taco Bell.

b. Tyler is married with children.

c.  Tyler is a butler.

d. Tyler is a doctor.

e.  Both a and c.

 

E.       Criterion of Evaluation

    1. Read: Chapter 11.2
    2. Know the 2 criteria relevant to evaluating each of the three types of inductive arguments.
    3. Example:

“Stacy and Tracy are twins.  Stacy is going to Harvard.  So Tracy is going to Harvard as well.”  If we find out that while Stacy had perfect SAT scores, Tracy didn’t even take the SAT, then the argument would be made weaker by which of the following criteria:

a.  Sample size

b. Representation of sample

c.  Strength of analogy

d. Relevance of analogy

e.  Explanatory power

f.   Plausibility

 

F.       Refutation by Logical Analogy

    1. Read: Chapter 11.3
    2. Exercises: p. 443
    3. Example:

“Some Americans are blond.  And some Americans are women.  So some Americans are blond women.”  This argument can be refuted by which of the following arguments:

a.  Some democrats are Americans.  Some republicans are Americans.  So some democrats are republicans.

b. Some Americans are democrats.  Some Americans are Republicans.  So some Americans are both democrat and republican.

c.  Some Americans are democrats.  Some democrats are republicans.  So some Americans are republicans.

d. Some Americans are democrats.  Some Americans are republicans.  So some Americans are democrats and some are republicans.